Cylinder bearing for printing machines



Sept. 4, 1934. A. J. GRAF CYLINDER BEARING FOR PRINTING MACHINES FiledApril 22. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m nlllll ll uum lll mw X' HHHl-I I I u uII. I In 4 d- Sept. 4, 1934.

A. J. GRAF CYLINDER BEARING FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed April 22, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATESCYLINDER BEARING FOR PRINTING MACHINES Albert J. Graf, Westfield, N. Jassignor to Irving Trust Company, receiver for R. Hoe & 00., Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New Yorlr Application April 22, 1932,Serial No. 606,820

5 Claims.

This invention in general relates to novel means for adjusting thecylinders or rollers of printing machines, and has for its principalobject the provision of a more elficient method and means for adjusting,equalizing or varying the pressure with which impressions are made andfor compensating for wear and differences of thickness in the blanketsor other coverings employed with cylinders or rollers used with printingmachines.

A more particular object is to provide a novel bearing which is adaptedto be used with and to adjust a cylinder or roller to provide a greateror less pressure for making impressions and also to vary the distancebetween coacting cylinders or rollers for suitable adjustment,regulation of pressure, compensation of wear and the like.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a cylinder bearing ofgenerally improved construction whereby the device will be simple,durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient,practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that various changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

.It has been found essential in practice to provide adjustably supportedbearings for conveniently and expeditiously positioning the cylinders orrollers of printing machines so that they may be moved or be arrangedtowards or from each other and whenever bodily or translational movementis necessary, together with suitable indicating means for denoting theactual amount of adjustment afforded or necessary.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a simplified andmore eflicient anti-friction bearing adapted for bodily moving oradjusting printing cylinders and rollers with respect to coacting means,and for indicating the degree or magnitude of the adjustment made andthe relative position of one end of the cylinder to the other end and tothe impression member.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in theaccompanying drawings two forms thereof which are at present preferred,since the same have been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinalsectional view, partly in elevation, taken on the line and viewed in thedirection of showing an embodiment of the invention as applied to theform cylinder of a rotary printing machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view, partly in section, ofthe device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational detail view of the device, asviewed in the direction of the arrow 3 of Figure 2, showing theindicating means employed with the present invention;

Figure 4. is a view similar to Figure 1 taken on 4 of Figure 5, of amodified form of the invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational detail view as seen in thedirection of the arrow 6 of Figure 5 of the indicating means employedwith the modified form of the invention;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a bearing member usedwith the modified form of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4,looking in the direction of the arrows.

With more particular reference to the drawings wherein similarcharacters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the preferredforms of the invention; 9 designates an impression cylinder and 10 aplate or form cylinder or roller, having a shaft 11 shouldered as at 12to provide a journal 13 which is supported on an anti-friction bearing14. The bearing 14 iscomposed of an inns"; ring or race member 15 whichis shouldered as at 16, 17 and a second adjacent inner ring 15 recessedor provided with diagonally positioned grooves or races as at 18, 19 fora purpose which will hereinafter appear. The diagonally positioned races18, 19 accommodate roller bearings 20, 21 which are engaged against aconcave, or arcuate portion 22 formed on the inner surface of aneccentric outer ring or race member 23 which forms an important featureof the present invention and which coacts with a portion of the frame 24of the printing machine (not shown) and the-journal 13 of the cylinderor roller to move or shift the latter bodily in order to compensate forany wear, to secure a'greater or less effective pressure between acoacting cylinder or roller and in general to provide means for bodilyor translationally adjusting the cylinders or rollers of printingmachines. While only one end of the form cylinder is illustrated, it isto be understood that the other end is substantially similar to the oneshown and that a duplicate adjusting device is connected thereto thearrow 1 of Figure 2,

.75 the line and viewed in the direction of the arrow I for thesamepurpose and functions so that both ends of the form cylinder may beadjusted as desired;

As will hereinafter appear, the entire antifriction bearing of thepresent invention which supports the rotating member or journal 13 ofthe shaft 11 has its bearing surfaces concentric with the axes of therotating member, the carrying elements, i. e., the balls or rollersbeing engaged directly with the said bearing surfaces, the innersupporting surface of the frame 24 being eccentric the axis of thecylinder 10.

The eccentric outer ring or race member 23 of the anti-friction bearingmay be considered as having a cam surface or as having a boreeccentrically positioned relatively to its circumference for a purposeappearing hereinafter, and is provided with a groove 25 to accommodate asuitable packing or lubricant-retaining washer 26. Secured to theeccentric ring 23, in any suitable manner as by the screw 27, is a discor plate 28 having a gear segment 29 and a projection or cam 30 securedto or formed integrally therewith. The eccentric ring or race member 23is retained in position by a pair of keeper plates 31 fastened in anysuitable manner to the frame 24, as by screws 32 and also serving asstops when engaged by the projection 30, to limit the rotation of theplate 23, and consequently the outer race 23. The gear segment 29 of thedisc 28 is engaged by a worm 33 formed on a bar or shaft 34 rotatablymounted in bearing brackets 35, 36 secured to the frame 24 by screws 37and 38 respectively. The bearing bracket 35 is split or slotted as at 39to form a somewhat U-shaped bearing having legs 40, 41 which may bedrawn together or spread apart and thus adjusted by a screw 42 having anoperating handle or wrench 43 fastened or pinned thereto, the adjustingscrew 42 being threadedly engaged in holes formed in the legs, 40, 41 ofthe said bearing 35. When the legs 40, 41 of the bearing bracket 35 aredrawn together, the shaft 34 is locked or bound therein, therebyfastening the said shaft 34 in position after the desired adjustment orposition of the cylinder 19 is obtained.

The worm shaft 34 has one end squared as at 44 which is adapted to bereceived in a suitable socket wrench or key (not shown) for turning thesaid shaft 34 to move the plate 28 and consequently the ring 23 in orderto adjust the cylinder Fastened to the shaft 34 is an indicating needleor index arm 45' which is adapted to pass over a calibrated scale 46formed on a disc or plate 47 secured to the bearing bracket'36 in anysuitable manner, as by the screws 47'. By inspection of Figure 3 it willbe seen that when shaft 1 34 is turned to move the cylinder 10 towardsor away from the impression cylinder 9 the magnitude or degree ofmovement may be readily determined by a glanceiat' the scale 46 which isgrad- 3 uated' to'preferably indicate, on and off and F; intermediatepositions of the form cylinder 10.

Since the worm 33 and coacting gear segment 29 must be turnedconsiderably to produce an appreciable displacement of the cylinder 10,the movement of the indicating needle or arm 45, it will be observed,gives a highly amplified indication of the actual movement of theeccentric outer bearing ring and, consequently, of the cylinder 10.

The function and general manner of operation of the device has been inlarge measure indicated from the foregoing description, but will appearmore fully from the following brief description:

v scribed above.

Assuming the cylinder 10 is in operative position for performing itsfunctions and that it is desired to move same to inoperative position 0a position adapted for the better handling of the immediate productsbeing handled, the socket wrench will be engaged with the squared end 44of the worm shaft 34 in order to turn same and, consequently, the gearsegment, thereby turning the eccentric outer ring 23 and shifting theposition of the cylinder 10. Since the bore of the outer ring 23 iseccentrically positioned relatively to the circumference thereof whichis positioned within the frame 24 as mentioned above, the cylinder 10will be moved or shifted awayfrom the impression cylinder, as the saideccentric ring 23 turns. When-the desired position or adjustmentisarrived at the slotted bearing 35' may be locked by turning the screw42 in order to lock the worm shaft 34 and consequently the cylinder inposition. Both ends of the cylinder 10, it is to be understood, asmentioned above, are provided with eccentric bearings of the kind abovedescribed.

In Figures 4- to 8 inclusive, a modified form of the invention is shown.In a number of respects the details are practically identical. In thepresent instance, 48 designates the cylinder or roller,

49 the shaft and 59 the journal which is supported on a bearing 51. Thebearing 51, which in some respects is similar to bearing 14, is composedof an inner ring or race member 52, mounted directly on the journal 50,and of an outer eccentric ring or race member 53. The inner ring or race52 of the bearing 51 has arranged adjacent thereto a pair ofplates 54,55'which serve to retain the roller bearing assembly 56, hereinafterdescribed, in the annular space or chamber 57 lying between the innerand outer rings or race members of the present bearing. The plate 55 isformed as a flange on a sleeve or bushing 58 rotatable on the journal 59of the shaft 49 and may 11.5 be secured to the inner race 52 or rotateindependently thereof. As best shown in Figures 4 and 7, the rollers 56are revolvably arranged in a cylindrical cage 59 which is received inthe space 5'7 between the inner and outer race members 52 12c and 53.

The outer ring or race member 53 is essentially an eccentric serving thesame purpose as the eccentric outer bearing 23-described above in theother form of the invention.

The presenteccentric outer ring or race mem ber 53, which is arrangedwithin a portion of the frame 60 of the present modified form of theinvention, is secured to a disc or plate 53' by screws 61 and has a gearsegment 62 formed thereon. Keeper plates 63 to retain the bearingassembly i operatively in position on the journal 50 and also iservingas stops for the plate 59 are secured to the frame 60 in any suitablemanner as by the screws 63'. The gear segment 62 is engaged by a worm 64formed on a shaft 65 which may be turned in the same manner as describedabove, in connection with the form shown in Figures 1, 2 i and 3.Bearing brackets 66, 6'7 for the worm shaft 65 have'practically the samefunctions as the corresponding members in the first form and areconstructed similarly.

All the other component parts of the modified form of the invention arelikewise similar with the exception of the inner and outer rings or racemembers 52 and 53, which have been partly de- The outer ring 53 also hasa flanged collar 68 secured to or formed integrally therewith, thesaidcollar having a groove as at 69 to accommodate a lubricant-retainingwasher or packing material 71.

When the worm shaft is turned the disc or plate 59 and the eccentricouter ring 53 secured thereto will turn thus bodily shifting the shaft49 and its cylinder or roller 48.

The indicating means for denoting the degree of compensation or pressureemployed, or the magnitude of movement of the form cylinder 48 isidentical in the present instance with that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,this being indicated by a corresponding similarity in the referencenumerals employed.

The general function and manner of operation of the two forms of thedevice has been in large measure indicated from the foregoing details,it being understood that when adjustments are desired, a socket wrenchwill be applied to the squared end of the respective worm shafts 34 and65 shown in the two forms of the invention and the said shafts turneduntil the eccentric outer rings of their respective bearings 14 and 53have moved their adjacent shaft and the cylinder attached thereto to thedegree desired for compensating for wear or for applying the desiredpressure. The adjustment afforded by the means described and shown, itwill be noted, is a fine one, and as indicated on the calibrated scale,may be accurately determined to the degree desired.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiments to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

What I claim is: I

1. The combination with a printing machine including a frame. havingbearing apertures formed therein and coacting printing cylindersoperably supported in the frame and having hearing shafts, ofanti-friction bearings rotatably i supporting one of the printingcylinders, each anti-friction bearing including an outer ring operablyreceived within a bearing aperture and having inner and outerperipheries arranged eccentric to each other, an inner ring havingconcentric inner and outer peripheries, the inner periphery engaging abearing shaft, anti-friction members operably positioned between theinner and outer rings, and means for rotating the outer ring as anoperative component of the printing machine to thereby move the printingcylinder transversely to adjust it relative to its coacting printingcylinder,

2. The combination with a printing machine including a frame havingbearing apertures formed therein and coacting printing cylindersoperably supported in the frame and having hearing shafts, ofanti-friction bearings rotatably supporting one of the printingcylinders, each anti-friction bearing including an inner ring havinginner and outer peripheries concentrically arranged relative to thebearing shaft of the printing. cylinder, the inner periphery engagingthe bearing shaft, an outer ring having an inner peripheryconcentrically arranged relative to the said shaft and an outerperiphery eccentric thereto, the outer periphery engaging the wall of aframe bearing aperture, anti-friction members operably positionedbetween the inner and outer rings, and means for rotating the outer ringas an operative component of the printing machine to thereby move theprinting cylinder transverselyto adjust it relative to its coactingprinting cylinderf 3. The combination with a printing machine includinga frame having bearing apertures formed therein and coacting printingcylinders operably supported in the frame and having bearing shafts, ofanti-friction bearings rotatably supporting one of the printingcylinders, each anti-friction bearing including an inner ring havinginner and outer peripheries concentrically arranged relative to thebearing shaft of the printing cylinder, the inner periphery engaging thebearing shaft, an outer ring having an inner periphery concentricallyarranged relative to the said shaft and an outer periphery eccentricthereto, the outer periphery engaging the wallof a frame bearingaperture, anti-friction members operably positioned between the innerand outer rings, means for rotating the outer ring as an op erativecomponent of the printing machine to thereby move the printing cylindertransversely to adjust it relative to its coacting printing cylinder,and means for visually indicating the extent of transverse movement ofthe printing cylinder.

4. The combination with a printing machine including a frame havingbearing apertures formed therein and coacting printing cylindersoperably supported in the frame and having bearing shafts, ofanti-friction bearings rotatably supporting one of the printingcylinders, each anti-friction bearing including an inner ring havinginner and outer peripheries concentrically arranged relative to thebearing shaft of the printing cylinder, the inner periphery engaging thebearing shaft, an outer ring having an inner periphery concentricallyarranged relative to the bearing shaft and an outer'periphery eccentricthereto, the outer periphery engaging the wall of a frame bearingaperture, anti-friction members operably positioned between the innerand outer rings, means for rotating the outer ring as an operativecomponent of the printing machine to thereby move the printing cylindertransversely to adjust it relative to its coacting printing cylinder,and means for locking the outer rin relative to the printing machineframe.

5. The combination with a printing machine including a frame havingbearing apertures formed therein and coacting printing cylindersoperably supported in the frame and having hearing shafts, ofanti-friction bearings rotatably supporting one of the printingcylinders, each antifriction bearing including an outer ring operablyreceived within a bearing aperture and having inner and outerperipheries arranged eccentric to each other, an inner ring havingconcentric inner and outer peripheries, the inner periphery engaging abearing shaft, anti-friction members operably positioned between theinner and outer rings, means for rotating the outer ring as an operativecomponent of the printing machine to thereby move the printing cylindertransversely to adjust it relative to its coactingprinting cylinder,means for visually indicating the degree of adjustment of the printingcylin- .der, and means for locking the outer ring relative to theprinting machine frame.

ALBERT J. GRAF.

